Job 28:3 - Man sets an end to darkness, and searches out, to the furthest bound, the stones of obscurity and of thick darkness.

Generated Verse: Job 28:3

What does "Job 28:3" mean?


Job 28 is a poem within the Book of Job about wisdom. This particular verse (Job 28:3) highlights humanity's ingenuity and relentless pursuit of knowledge, specifically in the physical world. Let's break down the meaning:

"Man sets an end to darkness...": This refers to how humans have learned to overcome the limitations of darkness, both literally (with fire and light) and figuratively (by exploring what is hidden).

"...and searches out, to the furthest bound...": This speaks to the thoroughness and determination of human exploration. We are not content with superficial knowledge; we push boundaries to reach the most remote and challenging places.

"...the stones of obscurity and of thick darkness.": "Stones" here probably refers to mineral wealth (ores, gems, etc.) buried deep within the earth. "Obscurity and thick darkness" emphasize the difficulty of finding these resources. They are hidden in places of darkness and unknown.

In essence, the verse describes the human drive to uncover hidden things, even in the most inaccessible and challenging environments. It emphasizes the ingenuity and effort that humans exert to extract resources and gain knowledge from the earth.

Context within the Poem:

It's important to understand this verse in the context of the larger poem in Job 28. The poem contrasts human's ability to find and extract valuable resources from the earth with the elusiveness of true wisdom. While humans can conquer physical challenges and unearth treasures, they cannot, through the same means, discover true wisdom. The poem ultimately suggests that wisdom is a gift from God, not something that can be found through human effort alone.

So, the verse serves to highlight human capability, but also to ultimately contrast it with the inaccessibility of true wisdom through purely human means.